Method of sound reproduction and apparatus therefor



Sept. 2, 1941. FODOR 2,254,478

' METHOD OF SOUND REPRODUCTION AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed Jan. 16, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 flies/v2 A4 fbaae INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

Sept. 2, 1941 F'QDQR 2,254,478 METHOD OF SOUND REPRODUCTION AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed Jan. 16, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet' 2 fZ'EENZ Ad 52002 INVENTOR.

' ATTORN Y.

Patented Sept. 2, 1941 METHOD OF SOUND nEPRonUc'rioN AND M APPARATUS THEREFOR Ferenz H. Fodor, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Regan-Day, Inc.', Los Angeles, Calif a corporation of California I Application January 16, 1939, Serial No. 251,200

' 11 Claims. (01.179-1003) V This invention pertains to improvements in the reproduction of sound from recordings carried uponcontinuous strip film. It is particularly directed toward means and methods whereby The present invention pertain's'to means and methods whereby a long program may be carried upon a relatively shortlength of film and means are provided wherebya'plurality of sound. recordings carried in substantially parallel ion-'55 gitudinalyrelation' on such strip of film may be continuously reproduced in an automatic mannerwithout the necessity of employing separate reproducing heads 'or devices, and without the sound may be continuously reproduced in a ready necessity of changing reels. and economical manner without thev necessity of Generally stated, the invention relates to a employing excessively long strips of film, and combination and arrangement of elements permits a plurality of sound recordings. to be'carwherebythe filmis moved through a reproducing ried by a strip of film, such sound recordings beunit includinga light source and a reproducing ing then sequentially reproduced in .an autopickup, means being provided whereby the film maticand facile manner. j u q a ita yicauses the direction of travel of There are numerous instances where it is dethe film to be reversed at the end of a sound resired to present a program over a protracted cording and the'lightfrom the source directed period of time from sound recordings." .Such through anadjoining or desired sound record program may comprise a lecture or other ad- '15 onto the reproducing pick-up. The device may dress, or a musical program such as, for examalso'include means whereby the feeding and ple, an opera, symphony or the like. The sound take-up reels handling the film are positively recordings may also combine voice and music .as, driven and such drive automatically reversed at for example, in a lecture devoted to the study'of the appropriate time so that the reproduction symphonic arrangement in'which'lecture exemfof; a number ofseparate sound tracks carried plarsof the music being discussed are reproupon a single stripyof film of relatively short duced. A length may take'place automatically, thus elim- Although the normal sound track (recorded mating the necessity of employing large reels or photographically in any of the well known manbulky equipment. f 7 ners, including the variable area, variable dens- Generally stated, the invention contemplates ity and other methods) is relatively narrow, it 'the provision of masking means between the has been customary to record but a singlesound light source and the reproducing pick-up, such track or record upon a strip of film such as the maskingmeans 3 including movable elements standard millimeter'motion picture film, the adapted to permit light topass through a demajor portion of the film being left vacant. 30 sired soundirecord only and means for actuating In the production* of photoplays, pictures of such elements,{the masking elements and the theaction fill the vacant space but in'manyinactuatingmeans being energized by the film itstances it is not necessary and even impossible self. A- selector switch is also provided, this to use pictorial representations. For example, selector switch controlling the energization of in radio broadcasting, sound is reproduced and 5 the means-actuating the masking elements and a half hour program requires several thousand at, the same time operably connecting relays foot reels of sound film. In order to reproduce whichautomatically change the direction of such a program in a continuous manner, it is movement of the film driving means or of the necessary to employ several reels of film and film-feeding and take-up means. preierably'two separate reproducing "machines 40 object oithe present invention; therefore, need be employed in order to obviate the neisfto-provide a machine and method of contin- 'cessity of stopping the program while reels are "uous reproduction of sound from a strip of film being changed. I -bearing af plurality of sound recordings'in par- It is evident, therefore, that prior methods of "allel longitudinal relation. reproducing lengthy programs required the use Another object is-to provide means'for autoof large quantities of film, bulky reelsand two muchy; and selectively controlling the passage separatev reproducing machines. For thislreaoflight from a source onto, a reproducing pickson, a reproduction of sound for broadcasting p;- 1 Y V purposes, lectures and home use-hasnot been further object is to provide a machine ineconomically feasible. cluding means for automatically changing the directionofjmovement of film through arepro- 'ducing unit in accordance with sequential reproduction of sound recordings carried by film passing through such reproducing unit.

adaptations of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of certain illustrative forms of the invention. 7

In order to facilitate understanding, reference will be had to the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a wiring diagram showing the interrelation of the various unitsemployed in carrying out the method. I

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through a reproducing unit.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along IV--IVof Fig.2. I

Fig. 5 is a representation'ofone end of a continuous strip film bearing a plurality of sound the plane recordings and adapted for use in-the method and p on the apparatus of this invention.

By first referring to Fig, 5 in the appended drawings, it. will be .seen that the continuous strip film l' carries aplurality of parallel longitudinally extending sound records such as, for exampleythe records A, B,' C and D. Although four records are shown onthe film l andsuch number of records is readilycarriedby a stand;- ard 35. millimeter film, the r venues contemplates the use of. two or more, records ona strip 8 at a desired speed. Details of construction of such film supporting and advancing drum are shown in a co-pending application Serial No. 232,138 filed by George P. Regan and Ferenz H.

Fodor,

As shown in Fig. 3, the film I0 may be fed to the reproducing head from a suitable reel through the tensioning rollers Hand then leaves the drum, passing through the rollers I2, and is taken up by a pick-up reel (not shown). The feeding .reel and the take-up reel may be electromagnetically driven, if desired (details of construction of such electromagnetic take-up drive being shown in a co-pending application Serial No. 362,199, filed on Oct. 22, 1940), or said feeding and take-up reels may be driven in any suitable or customary manner.

Itisto be noted that light from the source I can pass through the film carried by the lower surface of the drum 6 and then upwardly between the discs Sand 9' onto the reproducing pick-up 8.

Positioned between thelight source I and the film onthe drum 6 aremasking means, generally indicated "at [5, ,s'aid'masking means including 'rnovablev masking elements I6, l1, I8 and I9. These masking elements "[6 to l 9 are slidable in a suitableframe '20 attached to or extending from the wall o'f thehousing 5. The ends of of film, depending upon the length of the program, thewidth ofthe individual sound tracks and the widthof the film. Films16Q3 5, 70 milli meters or any other desired width may be-used. Every otherrecord on the film is capable of re-- productionin the same direction. In other words,

the beginnings of -reco'rdsAIand'C are indicatedwhereas the ends of records 13, and D' are indicated. in Fig. 5. The film l is also provided with means capable of cooperating with the de thesevarious slidably mounted masking elements jmay. be connected tobell crank levers, such as the levers 2|, 22, 23 and 24, pivoted upon pintles 25 and 26 supported from the wall of the housing 15, the ends" ofsuch bell crank levers being vices hereinafter "describedfor.thefpurpose of automatically 'shifting the position oflthe scanning lightiof the reproducingheadfand causin automatic reversal the direction; of movement of thefilm and other operations needed to permitcontin'uous sound reproduction. Such means may comprise the aperture 2 formed in thefilm I.

" The apparatus preferably includes 'areproduce ing unit contained; for example; in a housing 5, such reproducing unit including a filmsupportling means such'as the' drum, generally indicated at 6, a light' source 1 anda reproducing pick-- up 8. In theembodimentillustratedfthe drum 6 comprises ..a plurality of hollow disclik eielements 9, 9', etc, -mounted upon a hollowshaft tromagnetic driving means. The electromagnetic driving meansllare' morespecifically shown and described in a co-pending application Serial No.

232,137 filed by Ferenz' I-IQJFodor. I It may be generally stated, however, that the hollow shaft 10 maybe provided with aplate-like element which, may be acted upo by electromagnetic coils carried Iupon. driven-members. .When these coils are energized, they act upon the plate-like element carried by the shaft lii and cause rotation of h s a in. t i rsame irec ion as t v direction of. the energized electromagnetic coi ls.

The hollowfshaft i0. is in communication with the hollow discs 9, 9, etc. These discs arein turn provided with apertures intheirrims. Suction is applied to .the hollow shaft l0, the suction causing film supported bythej rims .ofthe discs Q,

1,. said hollow shaft being provided; with elec -r "connected to movable. cores,

ofsolenoidsiiil, 32, 33 and. c

'Each of themovable'masking elements IE to l9 isprovided with anaperture, such asthe aperture '36 of the masking element 16. In the position shown in- Fig. '4, the aperture 36 is in line with the light source and the reproducing picks'uch as the core j up .5 so that light from said sourcev may pass through sound track A of the film and be reproduced by the pick-up. In masking position,

jthe apertures, such as for example the aperture 3| o f 'maskin'g element U, will be out of line so that a solid or masking portion of the element '11 obstructs the passage of light from the source and. reproducing pick-up and thereby prevents the' reproducing "pick-up from receiving lightmodul'atediby the sound-record B of the film I. Itis' tobe noted that the light source I is so f'positioned with respect to theaxis of the drum 6T and with respectfto the hollow shaft III that it misses said shaft on its'way from the source to the pick-'upl' Attention .isalso called to the fact that' in'the eventt'wo light'sources-and two reproducing pick-ups h are ,to be employed. the masking elements such as the element is, may carry additionalopenings, such; as the opening 3',these additional openings being particularly used when the method of sound analysis referred to in Patent No. 2,094,847 is: to beemployed. The

' numerals 38 and 39.identify contact rollers which 9', etc. to. remain in contact with the rim cfthe .drum or wheel lFso that when the shaft lllis being driver-13 h ll i i c u ed toa between the s t' j ur klaedaih eeroeutme m e on the shaft It. On the right hand portion of the wiring diagram the shaft I is again indicated in dotted lines, such shaft being provided with a disc-like element in electromagnetic relation to certain coils identified as L, R and B.

The coilR is mounted upon a rotating element which rotates, for purposes of illustration, to the right. The coils L are mounted upon an element rotating to the left. The coil B is a stationary brake coil. By suitably energizing coil B, rotation of the shaft l0 and therefore of the drum 6 can be terminated. Energization of-coil R will immediately result in rotation of the drum 6 to the right. In the preferred method of operation, if it is desired to reverse the direction of rotation of the drum 6 as, for example, by changing the travel of the film from right to left, supply of energy to the coil R is stopped, coil B is energized momentarily, and then coil L is energized, this sequence of operations assuring a sudden stop followed by rotation in the opposite direction.

The element 50, shown on Fig. 1, comprises a selector switch provided with contact points 52,53 and 54. The switch 50 is mounted for rotation and is actuated by means of the arm .55 of a solenoid 56. The connection between the rotating body of the selector switch 50 and the arm 55 is not shown since those skilled in the art will readily appreciate the form of such connection.

A ratchet and pawl are carried by the selector switch 50 for the purpose of limiting its rotation. A contact roller 51 is provided, such contact roller being adapted to contact with the various contact points 5| to 54. The contact roller 51 is connected by line 58 to one side 6! of a power line. I

The other side of the power line, indicated at 62, may be connected as by line 63 to the film supporting drum 6. The rollers 38 and 39 are connected to a line 64 leading to the solenoid coil 56 and then by line 65 to power line 6|. It will be evident, therefore, that whenever roller. 38 or roller 39 contacts the drum 6 (as through the aperture 2 of film l), the circuit is closed and current flows through the coil of solenoid 56, thereby actuating the selector switch 50 and causing its rotation so as to bring a new contact point in electrical connection with the fixed roller 51.

The roller 51 connected to power line 6! makes contact with one of the contact areas on the selector switch (contact area 52 is indicated), such contact area being connected as by line 65 with a relay R2, the circuit being closed from such relay to the other side of the line (power line 62) by line 67. A relay such as R-2 is electrically associated with each of the contact areas 5| to 54.

The relay R2, upon being energized, will close the contact 68, thereby closing a circuit from power line '62 through line 69 with the solenoid 32, such solenoid being connected as by line it with power line 6!. When the relay RZ is energized, therefore, current is supplied to the solenoid 32, the solenoid then actuating the masking element l'l, moving such masking element into such position that light can now pass through the aperture of such masking element from the source I through recording B onto the reproducing pick-upB. V

Energization of relay R2 will also close a circuit from line 62 as by branch line H through contact 12 to a line 13 which leads to a relay-l4,

this relay closingfor a predetermined period of time, say 5 of one second, thereby supplying current to the line 15 during this brief interval, line 15 leading to brake coil B of the driving unit, coil B being connected with line 6| by line 16.

Energization of relay R-2 will also close circuit between line 62 and one of the driving coils in the following manner: Line 18 leads from line 62 to a contact 19 which is then connected as by line with the coils L, the coils L being connected in turn by line 8| with a relay 82, said relay 82 nominally requiring about of a second before it closes the circuit as by line 83 with supply line 6|.

When the film feeding and film take-up reels are motor driven, then every time the film supporting drum 6 reverses its direction of rotation, the motors driving the fihn take-up and feeding reels should also .be reversed. Motors for these take-up and feeding reels are indicated at lVl--I and M-Z. When the relay R2 is energized as previously stated, such relay may (in addition to the other operations noted) also close a circuit between power line 62 and branch line 84 as by means of a contact 85- with line 86, said line 86 leading to the pole 8'! of the motor M2 and also leading as by lines 88 and 89 to the pole 90 of the motor M-I. The opposite poles of the motors M-l and M-2, such as. the poles 9| and 92, are connected as by lines 93 and S4 with the line 95 which leads to the power supply line 6|.

It will be noted that R2 and R4 are provided with contacts such as 79 and 19 which are adapted to cause closure of circuits energizing coils L (driven to the left), thereby causing shaft I0 and drum 6 to revolve to the left. Relays R-! and R3, on the other hand, are provided with contacts such as 96, which close a circuit from line 18 to line 91 leading to coil R (driven to the right) and then to line 98, retarded relay 99 and main line 6!. The set of relays is therefore adapted to alternately drive the drum 6 in one direction and then in the other, when such set of relays Rl and R4 is operated in succession. Similar alternate reversal of the take-up motors M-I and M-2 is also -accom-' plished. The holding time of limit holding relay [4 and the delay of retarded relays 82 and 99 should be balanced, as for example, of a second, but this time should preferably be not mor than about /2 second. This delay and limited holding period will result in this: when change in direction of film feed is needed, as from left to right, current supply to coils L is discontinued, brake coil B is energized to stop rotation of shaft Ill and then coils R are energized to drive shaft It! to the right. The entire change is noiselessly and automatically accomplished in a period of say 6 of a second.

In the description given, sound recording A automatic means for reversing direction of travel of film or the like have been provided, such means (1n the example given) being correlated with means for moving masking elements and reversing-take-up driving means, so that continuous'reproduction .of' sound from a plurality of record 7 portions carried upon a short piece of'film can reproducing pick-up, a unitary means for sup- 1 i porting and advancing film between saidlight source and pick-up, said unitary means being adapted to support areas of film adjacent each edge of saidlongitudinally extending recordings;

vacuum means for holding said film in-Substantially static frictional contact with said sup-' porting and advancing means-and'means for driving said supporting and advancing means in either direction.

2. In a machine for'continuous' reproduction d of sound from a strip of film bearing a plurality of sound recordings in'parallel, spaced, longitudinal relation, the combination of: asound reproducing unit including a light source a'ndareproducingpick-up, a unitary means for supporting and advancing filmbetween said light source and pick-up, said unitaryymeans being adapted to support areas of film adjacent each edge of said longitudinally extending recordings; vacuum means for holding said film in substantially static frictional contact with said supporting and advancing means; means for driving said supportingand advancing means in either direction and a separate driven take-up means adapted to act upon each end of said strip film. 7

33 In a machine for co'ntinuousreproduction of sound from a strip of film bearing a plurality of sound recordings in parallel longitudinal relation, the combination of a stationary sound re-; producing unit including a film supporting means, a light source and a reproducing pick-up, masking means operably associated with said reproducing unit for passing light througha desired sound track only on said film, said masking means including a plurality 'of separately movable masking elements and an electromagnetic actuating means connected to each element, means for driving film through said reproducing unit in either direction, a selector switch adapted to be actuated by film passing through said reproduc- 1 switch adapted to be actuated by film passing through said reproducing unit, said selector switch having a contact correlated to each sound track carried by the film, and a relay associated with each contact of said selector switch, each r'elaybeing operably associatedwith means for changing the direction of movement of the film driving means and said electromagnetic maskactuating means.

5.-In a machine for continuous reproduction ofsound from a strip of film bearing a plurality of sound recordings'in parallel longitudinal relation, the combination of: a stationary sound reproducing unit including a light source and a reproducing pick-up, a film supporting and ad'- va'ncing' means between said light source and pick-up, masking means operably associated with said reproducing unit-for passing light through a desired sound track only on said film, said masking means including a plurality of separately movable masking elements and an electromagnetic actuating means connected to each element, means for driving said film supporting and advancing means to move film through said reproducing unit in either direction, a selector switch adapted to be actuated by film passing through said reproducing unit, said selector operative relation to the light source, means for supporting and advancing film between said pick-up and light source; electromagnetic driving means for said film supporting and advancing means, said driving means including opposed action drive coil circuits and a brake coil circuit; a masking means inoperable relation to said reproducing pick-up for passing light through a desired sound track only onsaid film, said masking means including a plurality of separately movable masking elements, an electromagnetic mask-actuating means operably connected to each masking element; a roller yieldably urged toward said film supporting and advancing means and adapted to contact the same through signal'perforations in said film; and an operative arrangement of circuits to automatically reverse said electromagnetic driving means and to actuate the masking means when said roller contacts the film advancing and supporting means through a signal perforation, said circuit including a selector switch having a plurality of contacts ina fixed operative sequence, electromagnetic means operably connected to the roller for advancing said selector switch, a relay connected means, a light source and a reproducing pick-up, 1'

masking means operably associated with said reproducing unit for passing lightthrougha desired sound track only on said film, said maskmg means including a plurality of separately movable masking elements and an electromagnetic actuating means connected to each element,.means for driving film through said reproducing unit. inl eitherdirection, a selector to each of said contacts, all of said relays being connected to and adapted to "close a brake coil circuit, each of said relays being operatively contical system, a fixed reproducing pick-up in operative relation :to the light source, means. for supporting and advancing film between said pick-up. and light source; electromagnetic driving means forsaid film supporting and advancing means, said driving means including opposed action driv coil circuits and a brake coil circuit; a masking means in operable relation to said reproducing pick-up for passing light through a desired sound track only on said film, said masking means including a plurality of separately movable masking elements, an electromagnetic mask-actuating means operably connected to each masking element; a roller yieldably urged toward said film supporting and advancing means and adapted to contact the same through signal perforations in said film; and an operative arrangement of circuits to automatically reverse said electromagnetic driving means and to actuate the masking means when said roller contacts th film advancing and supporting means through a signal perforation, said circuit including a selector switch having a plurality of contacts in a fixed operative sequence, electromagnetic means operably connected to the roller for advancing said selector switch, a relay connected to each of said contacts, all of said relays being connected to and adapted to close a brake coil circuit including a limit-holding relay, each of said relays being operably connected to a drive coil circuit including a delayed action relay correlated to said limit holding relay, each of said relays being connected to and adapted to close a circuit to a mask-actuating means.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a fixed light source and optical system, a fixed reproducing pick-up in operative relation to the light source, means for sup-' porting and advancing film between said pick-up and light source; electromagnetic driving means for said film supporting and advancing means, a masking means in operable relation to said reproducing pick-up for passing light through a desired sound track only on said film, said masking means including a plurality of separately movable masking elements, an electromagnetic mask-actuating means operably connected to each masking element, a roller yieldably urged toward said film supporting and advancing means and adapted to contact the same through signal perforations in said film, and an operative arran'gement of circuits to automatically reverse said electromagnetic driving means and to actuate the masking means when said roller contacts the film advancing and supporting means through a single perforation, said circuit including a selector switch having a plurality of contacts in fixed operative relation, electromagnetic means operably connected to the roller for advancing said selector switch, and a relay connected to each of said contacts, all of said relays being connected to means for stopping said electromagnetic drive means, successive relays being adapted to energize said driving means in alternate directions, each of said relays being connected to and adapted to close a circuit through an electromagnetic mask-actuating means.

9. In an apparatus of the character described,

the combination of: a fixed light source and optiing and advancing means and adapted to contact the same through signal perforations in said film,

and an operative circuit to automatically reverse said electromagnetic driving means when said roller contacts the film advancing and supporting means through a signal perforation, said circuit including a selector switch having a plurality of contacts in fixed operating sequence, electromagnetic means operably connected to the roller for advancing said selector switch, and a relay connected to each of said contacts, all of said relays being connected to means for stopping said electromagnetic drive means, successive relays being adapted to energize said driving means in alternate directions.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of: a fixed light source and optical system, a fixed reproducing pick-up in operative relation to the light source, means for supporting and advancing film between said pickup and light source; electromagnetic driving means for said film supporting and advancing means, said driving means including opposed action drive coil circuits and a brake coil circuit, a roller yieldably urged toward said film supporting and advancing means and adapted to contact the same through signal perforations in said film, and an operative arrangement of circuits to automatically reverse said electromagnetic driving means when said roller contacts the film advancing and supporting means through a signal perforation, said circuits including a selector switch having a plurality of contacts, electromagnetic means operably connected to the roller for advancing said selector switch, and a relay connected to each of said contacts, all of said relays being connected to and adapted to close a brake coil circuit, each of said relays being operably connected to a drive coil circuit.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a fixed light source and an optical system, a fixed reproducing pick-up in operative relation to the light source, means for supporting and advancing film between said pickup and light source; electromagnetic driving means for said film supporting and advancing means, said driving means including opposed actiondrive coil circuits and a brake coil circuit, a roller yieldably urged toward said film supporting and advancing means and adapted to contact the same through signal perforations in said film, and an operative arrangement of circuits to automatically reverse said electromagnetic driving means when said roller contacts the film advancing and supporting means through a signal perforation, said circuits including a selector switch having a plurality of contacts, electromagnetic means operably connected to the roller for advancing said selector switch, and a relay connected to each of said contacts, all of said relays being connected to and adapted to close a brake coil circuit including a limit holding relay, each of said relays being operably connected to a drive coil circuit including a delayed action relay correlated to said limit holding relay and each of said relays being connected to and adapted to close a circuit through the electromagnetic mask-actuating means.

FERE'NZ H. FODOR, 

